Division I Women

Duke Scores 21 Goals on 29 Shots, Defeats Ohio State in Season
Opener

from press release

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke's offense was firing
on all cylinders as the fourth-ranked Blue Devil women's lacrosse
team opened the 2011 campaign with a 21-9 victory over Ohio State
from Koskinen Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Duke (1-0) totaled 21 goals on 29 shots while also tying a
program single-game high with 13 assists. The Blue Devils' 34
points against the Buckeyes is just two shy of the program record
set against LeMoyne in 2007.

"I really was pleased," head coach Kerstin Kimel said. "The
biggest thing coming into the game for us was to be able to set the
tone from the first whistle, and I thought we did that. That is a
testament to our upperclassmen and the leadership we have on the
field. I thought they did an awesome job of setting the tone right
away."

In total, five Blue Devils tallied three or more goals in the
contest, led by junior Kat Thomas and redshirt junior Emma Hamm
with four each. Hamm (4g, 2a), along with senior Christie Kaestner
(3g, 3a), also led the team in points for the game with six, while
sophomore Makenzie Hommel and redshirt freshman Maddie Salamone
both marked their first career starts with three goals each. Senior
Sarah Bullard (2g, 1 a), senior Virginia Crotty (1g, 3a) and
sophomore Jackie Klauberg (1g) rounded out the Duke goal
scorers.

Duke opened the scoring on its first possession as Hamm, who
returns this season after missing 2010 due to injury, notched the
first score of the season for the Blue Devils. Duke never looked
back from that point on, building a 9-1 advantage with 16:30
remaining in the opening period.

After Ohio State narrowed the margin to 9-5, Duke responded with
another run to take a 14-5 lead into the intermission. The Buckeyes
struck first to begin the second half, yet the remainder of the
game belonged to the Blue Devils, who built a 20-6 lead before Ohio
State scored three goals with under eight minutes to play.

Junior Mollie Mackler, who also returns to the line up after
missing a part of last season to injury, started in goal for the
Blue Devils and made eight saves to earn the win.

The Blue Devils resume the 2011 schedule next weekend with home
games on both Friday and Sunday. Duke takes on Richmond at 7 p.m.,
Friday, Feb. 18 before entertaining William & Mary at 1 p.m.,
Sunday, Feb. 20.